Ride-hailing firms Grab, Uber pursue growth in Myanmar

A Grab motor driver is seen in a street in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Beawiharta

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore-headquartered Grab launched a trial of its ride-hailing services in Myanmar on Tuesday, aiming to expand to a seventh Southeast Asian country, while rival Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] said it was also looking to enter the market shortly.

Grab is working with a small group of taxi drivers in a trial in Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city, and would increase in scale gradually, the company said in a statement.

Myanmar would add to Grab's other regional operations in Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Its U.S. rival Uber operates worldwide.

Uber, in a separate statement the same day, said it was "very pleased with the progress we have made toward a partnership with the government in Yangon and look forward to introducing our ridesharing technology in the country very soon."

Expansion into Myanmar comes as authorities work to improve public transport, having for the first time introduced regular bus lines, timetables and salaries for drivers.